Foot-support



No. 613,904. Patented Nov. 8, I898.

R. T. JONES.

FOOT SUPPORT.

(Application filed Jan. 27, 1898.)

(No Model.)

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NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD THOMAS JONES, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

FOOT-SU PPO RT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 613,904, dated November 8, 1898.

Application filed January 27, 1898- Serial No. 668,123. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RICHARD THOMAS JONES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Foot-Supports, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved shoe for persons having one leg shorter than'the other.

The object of this invention is to provide for lame persons a shoe that will admit of inserting the foot from the rear and then lace up at the back. Many persons who have one leg shorter than the other are unable to lean forward far enough to lace the shoe on the lame foot and arecompelled to have some one do it for them. With the shoe asI have constructed it aperson sitting in a chair can extend the lame leg back, with the toe of footsupport resting on the floor and heel upward and then readily lace the shoe at the back.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanyin g drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side view of the improved mechanical foot-support. Fig. 2 is a back or heel elevation of same. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the improved shoe, includingthe mechanical foot-support. heel elevation of the shoe.

The foot-support A, on which the sole of the foot rests, may be made of any preferred material and any desired construction. It has preferably a toe part I, jointed or flexibly attached in front of the foot-support A. It also has a suitable spaceb for the toes of the foot. I provide rigid side supports for the ankle. These upright supports 0 are integral with a plate d, which is curved to fit the back or rounded heel contour of the foot-support A, to which it is secured by rivets e or other suitable means. A space f is left entirely open between the two upright supports 0, and

Fig. 4; is a back or this space serves for entering the foot into the shoe from the rear. Each upright support has a number of small holes g, which serve for stitching, riveting, or otherwise fastening the leather upper of the shoe.

The foot-support A is to be inserted in a cover or shoe 0. The top or ankle part J of the upper of this shoe is of peculiar construction. In front and up the instep portion at the shoe-upper is closed; but at the rear or back part it has a vertical opening Z, and at each side of the opening is provided with eyelets or hooks for a lace m. The shoe-upper at each side of the rear vertical opening is fastened to the rigid uprights c, as already mentioned, by means of stitches g or rivets, which take through the holes 9 in the said uprights. Thus the leather 0f the ankle part of the shoe at each side of the vertical opening is stayed and kept in position. The heel of the foot will seat well up on the edge f at the bottom of the rear space and will project backwardbetween the two uprights. The latter serve to support the ankle and keep the shoe from turning when stepping on something uneven. The vertical rear opening and lacing on the upper will take the necessary shape to cover the heel, as seen in Fig. 4, where the edges of said opening are spread apart more at the point Where the heel bulge is greatest.

If desired, the shoe-upper may have a front opening and be laced up at the front in addition to the rear opening and lacing. The construction here shown of attaching the leather of the shoe-upper at each side to the uprights 0 will keep the shoe-upper in position even if it is open both at front and rear.

The shoe proper, Q, will have the ordinary appearance and will match the shoe worn on the other foot.

It is obvious that the foot-support A may be made adjustable both as to length and height, according to Letters Patent of the United States granted me September 21, 1897, No. 590,416.

From this description it will be understood that the foot may be entered into the shoeupper 0 from the rear through the vertical opening Z and between the two uprights 0. After the foot is in position the person sitting in a chair can bend the knee and extend the lame leg backward with the heel of the shoe upward and the toe of the shoe resting on the floor. This position of foot and shoe will bring the rear, opening Z upward in close enough position to the persons hands to enable him to readily lace the shoe.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim is-- 1. The combination with a shoe for persons having one limb shorter than the other, of a supporting-plate for the sole of the foot; two rigid upright prongs at the heel part one at each sidewith a space between them entirely open and serving to admit of entering the foot from the rear through said space.

2. The combination with a shoe, of a support for the sole of the foot; and a curved heel-plate, d, having two upright prongs with a space between them entirely open-the curved part of said plate fitting on the rounded heel part of the foot-support and secured thereto, whereby a persons foot may be passed from the rear through said open space.

3. The combination of a support for the foot of lame persons, having two upright pr0ngsone at each side of the heel part of said foot-supportwith a space between the prongs entirely open; and a shoe inclosing the said foot-support and provided at the rear 20 RICHARD THOMAS JONES.

\Vitnesses CHARLES E. MANN, J12, CHAPIN A. FERGUSON. 

